Ken Paxton, the Attorney General of Texas, has filed a lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson and its former consumer-health spin-off Kenvue Inc. (which now markets Tylenol) alleging that the companies deceptively marketed the over-the-counter pain-reliever to pregnant women despite alleged links between its active ingredient, acetaminophen, and neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism and ADHD.
In his statement, Paxton accused the companies of knowingly endangering millions of users to boost profits, framing the lawsuit under the slogan of “Make America Healthy Again.” The suit marks the first time a U.S. state government has taken legal action of this sort regarding Tylenol and pregnancy.
Kenvue strongly disputed the allegations, saying that acetaminophen remains the safest pain-relief option for pregnant women when needed, and warning against what it described as the spread of misinformation regarding the drug’s safety.
The scientific evidence linking prenatal acetaminophen use to autism or ADHD remains contested: although some studies have observed associations, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has stated that a causal relationship is not established.
In short: Texas’s top law-enforcement official is accusing major pharmaceutical firms of misleading pregnant consumers about Tylenol’s risks despite unresolved science; the companies involved are mounting a defence, and the broader question of over-the-counter drug safety in pregnancy has been reignited by this legal challenge.
Source: abc News
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